Everyone's getting way outta hand with this anti-trust crap. I don't see why everyone's getting their panties in a wad over this stuff with Intel and Microsoft. CPU manufacturers have the right to make motherboard chipsets to work specifically with their processors and motherboard manufacturers have the right to make motherboards for CPU manufacturer of their choice. In fact many motherboard makers create motherboards for both Intel and AMD. They wouldn't do it if it wasn't profitable.

AMD has a fair shot at the market, all they need to do is show that their product is better. They are gaining ground too. There used to be a time when nobody in their right mind would buy an AMD CPU. To tell you the truth, my first computer had an AMD 486\66 and it screamed. They did get into a slump for a while and I became a Intel fan. I can see that they are getting much, much better and I may consider putting an AMD in the next machine I build.

This is an open market. Intel is just trying to make their processors run better by developing their own motherboard chipsets, and so is AMD! Now quit whining like babys. If you like AMD, buy an AMD. If you like Intel, buy one of those. This is becoming like the Ford vs Chevy, Nintendo vs Sega vs Sony, and "the product I bought is better than yours" stupid lameass childish game.

I don't believe that the first two comments were motivated by Intel's manufacturing of its own motherboard chipsets. What has people "whining" is that Intel has allegedly been trying to throttle the supply of motherboards which support AMD cpu's by threatening to cut supply of Intel motherboard chips to motherboard manufacturers who make AMD boards (i.e. if you want to make Intel motherboards, you can't make AMD motherboards). This would be akin to Nintendo refusing to allow a company that makes games for the Playstation to make Nintendo games. This inconveniences the consumer who is genuinely interested in the AMD product by making it difficult for him to find a suitable motherboard. (Intel hope it'll inconvenience us enough to make us buy Intel equipment)

As many people will point out, you can hardly blame Intel for playing hardball. They're a business and their primary concern is profitability. As such, hurting their competition is a smart move, from a business perspective. It's a tactic whose legality is questionable, and whose morality is offensive to a lot of people. But I'm sure Intel is aware of this and has already weighed it in the balance of its decision.

My point is, lets not lose focus of the issue here. Nobody's questioning whether or not Intel has the right to help itself. People are just questioning whether they have the right to hurt AMD and the consumer in the process.